Wish Blog

Dec 29, 2018

2018: A YEAR IN WISHES

Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. This is the mission of Make-A-Wish®, the driving force behind everything we accomplished in 2018 and all we hope to accomplish in the years to come.

2018 was a record-breaking year for our chapter in many ways. Not only did we expand our staff and our ability to grant more wishes for Southern Nevada children, but we raised more than $3 million to sustain our mission. Most importantly though, we granted the wishes of 143 children in Southern Nevada, surpassing last year’s chapter-record of 117.

These 143 wishes showed the passion and creativity of our wish kiddos and pushed our community to new heights to create memorable experiences. We transformed Noe into a police officer, Quinn into a mermaid and Madison became an inventor. 70% of our wishes involved travel, including 58 wish kids who went to a Disney resort. 16 kids met their favorite sports team or celebrity and eight had the ultimate shopping spree. And we learned how powerful our community truly is as more than 16 partners came together to grant Sultan’s wish to have a backyard playhouse, our 2,000th wish granted since we opened our doors in 1996.

This year also saw growth in our two signature events: Walk For Wishes and Fashion Luncheon. On a chilly morning in March, more than 3,500 people descended on Town Square to take a walk on the wish side, raising $500,000 to make wishes come true. Then in November, Linda Richardson and our amazing committee hosted another unforgettable Fashion Luncheon, raising a record $1 million at Scarpetta, the event’s new home at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Of course, none of this year’s successes would be possible without our team of dedicated community partners, board members, staff, and volunteers who step up every day to make these empowering and life-affirming wishes come true. This dedicated group embodies the spirit of Make-A-Wish – they are the magic ingredient to every wish we grant.

As this year winds down, I am grateful to be surrounded by such an engaged community that understands the power of a wish and strives to positively impact the life of every wish family that comes through the doors of The Wishing Place. We cannot make these experiences happen for our wish kids without all of you!

While we take time to celebrate these accomplishments, I know our work will not be done until we can grant the wish of every eligible child in Southern Nevada. Our goal to grant 175 wishes in 2019 is lofty, but not unattainable - especially with the continued support of this passionate community.
Walk with Me. Wish with Me.
Registration is now open for the 2019 Walk for Wishes. Mark your calendar for March 9, 2019, and setup your team page today at WalkforWishesSNV.org.

Become a Volunteer
Every volunteer plays a vital role in helping us achieve our mission. We have volunteer opportunities for every area of interest, skillset and availability. Register to learn more at our next Volunteer Orientation on January 12th.

Donate
There are so many ways your generous contribution impacts the lives of children battling critical illnesses. I encourage you to explore all our ways to give.

So, thank you to everyone who got out their magic wand and made 2018 one for the record books. Remember, you are transforming lives, one wish at a time. It’s not just a tagline; it’s a belief!

Caroline Ciocca
President & CEO, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada

About this Blog

The Wish Blog gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Make-A-Wish®. See how wishes come together and how they change lives forever. Hear directly from those who work or volunteer here, or those who have been transformed by a wish. And learn why we are so committed to someday granting the wish of every eligible child, every year.

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